The artwork “Table for Ladies” by Edward Hopper, created in 1930, is an oil painting on canvas representing the genre painting tradition within the Social Realism art movement. Measuring 153 x 123 cm, this piece is part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, New York, United States.
The artwork offers a vignette of a restaurant scene characterized by Hopper’s signature use of light and shadow to create atmospheric depth. In the foreground, a waitress in a white uniform is positioned prominently, her attention focused on setting down a plate at an empty table adorned with a colorful fruit display – suggesting an element of preparation or anticipation. She is juxtaposed against a varied group of patrons, including two individuals at a table conversing in the middle ground. In the background, another waitress appears engaged in her own tasks. Hopper’s careful composition and isolated figures explore themes of modernity and solitude within commonplace settings, a profound reflection on American life during the early 20th century. The warm, yet restrained, palette creates a sense of intimacy and introspection, inviting viewers to consider the personal narratives intertwined within public spaces.
